The groundbreaking work of CSIRO researchers was recognised at the 2010 CSIRO Awards Ceremony.

There are benefits, tangible and intangible, to clustering life science companies together. The Thebarton Bioscience Precinct in South Australia shows how it can lend a boost not only to the companies involved, but to the entire biotech industry. [ + ]

Two Australian universities have received funding and technology from Agilent Technologies to help kick start new research initiatives. [ + ]

It appears the Government and Opposition agree. Research and development (R&D) is fundamental to business growth and to Australia’s long term prosperity. Agreement ends at this point. We disagree on how we can get the ‘biggest bang’ out of the $1.6 billion the Government invests every year to enhance Australia’s productivity through the existing R&D tax concession. [ + ]

Melbourne’s Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI) has entered into a commercial agreement with New Jersey-based biotech BD to develop the institute’s reagents for research and diagnostic tools. [ + ]

The new M² building, part of the Materials and Minerals Sciences Learning and Research Hub at the University of South Australia, will foster Australia’s next generation of engineering, material and mineral science graduates.

Health and medical research spending not only delivers economic benefits and supports highly skilled jobs, but it delivers significant savings in terms of health benefits. [ + ]

The Prime Minister Julia Gillard and the Premier of Victoria John Brumby have announced IBM will establish what it claims will be a world-first global research and development laboratory at the University of Melbourne.

Victorian Premier, John Brumby, today announced the Victorian Biotechnology Action Plan, which will provide $55 million of government money to spur biotech in the southern state. [ + ]

After a promising start to the year, economic instability and political uncertainties, along with stumbles by key companies, have put a dent in confidence amongst biotechs, but it’s not all bad news. [ + ]

UniQuest, the commercialisation arm of the University of Queensland, will be showing off a host of new innovations and projects, including a cell-based therapy to combat infections in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. [ + ]

The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index fell for the week while the broader market just clung onto positive territory. [ + ]

The Cancer Institute of NSW has provided funding of $3.7 million to the Garvan Institute’s Cancer Research Program to support work into determining key biomarkers for breast, prostate and pancreatic cancer. [ + ]

The Western Australian Institute for Medical Research (WAIMR) has secured $650,000 from the Medical Research Commercialisation Fund (MRCF) to advance its work looking at the potential anti-cancer properties of the microRNA molecule miR-7 as well as the formation of a new company to act as a commercial vehicle. [ + ]

Computer giant IBM has announced that it will build a new state-of-the-art research facility at Melbourne University designed to support disease research and biotechnology as well as advance knowledge of the environment and agricultural sustainability. [ + ]